Fuse-block



L. B. ANDERSON.

FUSE BLOCK. APPLICATION FILD 1AN.|9. 1920.

'1,376,392. Patented May 3, 1921. E

UNITED STATES LOU BELLE ANDERSON, OF CEIINA, TEXAS.

FUSE-BLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1921.

Application filed January 19, 1920. Serial No. 352,519.

Letters Patent No. 1,1l3,528 issued to me,

as administratrix, on October 13, 1914:, but embodies 'several other features as will be hereinafter pointed out.

The fuse block covered by said patent has certain objections, one of which is that a special fuse is required, and the other is that the lineman must reach up above the primary circuit wires to remove and replace the fuses,`

thus bringing his body into near relation to said wires. Further the said device is designed for one particular fuse and larger or smaller fuses could not be used unless specially made. u

The object of this invention is to provide a fuse block whereby the fuses can be oremoved and replaced by the lineman without bringing his body into close proximity with the primary circuit wires. x

A further object is to provide a fuse block so constructed that fuses of various sizes and amperage and of the cartridge type now in common use can be used therein, thus precluding the necessity of using an especially made fuse of a certainsize.

In carrying out the invention I interpose a non-conducting fuse block in one side of a primary electric circuit, the wires of the said circuit entering the block from opposite sides near the top of the latter and terminating. Vertically disposed fuse receiving apertures provided within the block receive the fuses, resilient sockets at the upper ends of the said apertures and connecting with the circuit wires receiving the upper terminals of the said fuses.

A non-conducting plug having a conducting plate along its upper face with resilient sockets Secured thereto which receive and retain the lower terminals of the fuses is inserted into a recess in the lower part of the block and retained therein by a non.- conducting pin. *fuses into the sockets on the plug and then illserting the plug. into the block the uses Thus, by inserting the.

are replaced without touching them while they rare n contact with the circuit. This 'may be done by the lineman. from below the block, thereby enabling him to avoid the dangers attendant upon coming into close proxmty to the circuit wires. u

By making the sockets on the plug of stffer material than those within the block, those within the block would release first upon the withdrawal of the plug' and permit the fuses to be withdrawn with the plug. The resihent sockets contracting so as to hold smaller fuses and expanding to receivelarger ones than those especially made for use with my devce, would permit of fuses of various szes and amperages being used.

Upon the circuit becoming over-charged by lightning or otherwise one fuse would be blown out and any arc that might occur wthn the aperture of the block would be destroyed by the blowing out of the other fuse, thus obviating the destruction of the block which would occur if a single fuse was employed. A non-conducting pin. would retain the plug within the block against the expansion of the gases within the block caused by the blowing out of the fuses, the saidgases escaping through passages commumcating with the outer surface of the block.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following speci fication and by reference to the accompanying drawings in which an example of 'the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1- is a view in elevation of a device embodying the invention, showing a portion of the bracket upon which the same is mounted, v

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the cap broken away from one side of the block Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the 'block wth the plug shown partly in section and partly in elevation,

Fig. 4 is a view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, l

Fig. 5 is a side view of the device 'partly in elevation and partly in section,

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the plug with the fuses inserted in the sockets, and

Fig. 7 is a detail of one 'of the sockets within the block.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designatcs the body of a fuse block preferably formed of porcelain, having a rectangular projection 11 extending longitudinally along the back of the body and integral with the latter. This projection Contacts the support 12 upon which the body is mounted and acts to maintain the body at a substantial distance from the said support, to' which the body is Secured by means of bolts 13.

VVithin the body are vertically disposed tubular fuse receiving apertures 14 opening a in the open bottom of the body and terminating in its upper portion, the said apertures being laterally enlarged at their ends. With the 'top of the aperture 14 there communicates an opening 15 of smaller diameter than the said aperture and opening at the top of the body.

Binding posts 16* engage within the openingsv. 15, each post havngtransversely extending annular flanges 17 at their lower ends. These fianges engage on annular shoulders 18 at the tops of the apertures 14, the said flanges being surrounded by a seal 19 of wax which is poured into the enlarged termination of the said apertures. Resilient sockets 20 are secured to the lower ends of the binding posts and disposed to receive the upper terminals 20' of fuses 14' disposed within the apertures 14.

The wires 21 comprising one side of a primary electric circuit enter the body from opposite sides of the latter through horizontal passages 22 communicating with the apertures 15, and are engaged in permanent contact with the binding posts 16 by means of binding screws 23.

A cap 24 having a depending a ron eX- tending around its edge surmounts t e body. Thus the top of the body is made water proof and the apron tends to cause the water to drip free of the body and not run down the sides of the latter.

A non-conducting plug 25, the lower portion of which assumes the shape of a handle is inserted into the lower end of the body which is open. The plug has a conducting plate 26 Secured along its upper face by means of lugs 27' having nuts disposed within transverse Slots 28. Upwardly di rected resilient sockets 29 integral with the plate 26 are disposed within the apertures 14. The said sockets receive the lower terminals 29' of the fuses 14'.

By inserting the lower terminal 29' of a fuse into each of the sockets 29 and then inserting the plug into the lower portion of the body the upper terminals 20' of the fuses would be received within the Sockets 20.

A horizontal passage 30 through the front of the body near the bottom of the latter permits a non--nducting pin 31 to pass through the said passage and movably engage in a horizontally disposed opening 32 extending partly through the plug, thereby retaining the plug within the body. Thus, the lineman can insert the fuses quickly and easily without the aid of tools. Also, by

plug and inserting the said plug into the bottom of the body from below the latter he can avoid the danger of electrocution attendant upon bringing his body into close proximity to the primary circut wires.

When a fuse blows out the expanded gases caused thereby escape from the aperture 14 through a passage 33 leading from the said 'aperture and opening on the outside of' the body, the pin 31 obviating the displacement of the plug from the body by the said gases.

It is noted that the normal ath of the current is through one of the wires 21 leading into one side of the body, thence through the binding post 16 and socket 20 into the fuse. The fuse conveys that current to the socket 29 and thence the current passes through the conducting plate 26 to the socket 29 at its opposite end and into another fuse. The latter fuse conveying the current to the socket 20 and through the binding post into the wire which passes out of the block at the opposite side of the latter from the first namedwire.

It is pointed out that when the circuit becomes overloaded or Shortened for any reason the fuses blow out and break the circuit, thereby recluding the damage to property commonl cuited wring. any arcing which might occur between the terminals of one fuse would be destroyed by the blowing out of the other fuse and thereby obviating the damaging of the body caused by such arcing when a single fse is employed, the web 34 between the apertures 14 precluding the possibilityt of the current arcing across from one wire of the circuit to the other. The resilient sockets contract to engage a smaller fuse and expand to receive a .larger fuse than the one especially designed for use with this fuse block, thereb permitting the standard Cartridge type fiises of various sizes and amperages to be used. The sockets 29 being made of stifl'er material than the sockets 20 would cause the latter to release the fuses when the pin 31 is removed from the plug and the plug is withdrawn fron the body; thus, the fuses would remain in the sockets 29 and be withdrawn from the apertures with the plug.

It will be seen that by the use of this device a number of the objectionable and dangerous features of the fuse blocks formerly usel are substantially overcome and remedie What I claim, is:

1. In a fuse block an insulating body provided with a plurality of longitudinal apertures and having a main bore at its lower end which leads into the apertures, resilient sockets held within the upper ends of the apertures, an insulting plug adapted for insertion within the main bore to close the same and to be removed therefrom, means to lock the insuiating plug within the main bore, a, conducting plate Secured to the inner end of the insulating plug, resilient sockets connected with the conducting plate and being stiffer than the first named resilient sockets fuses having their opposite ends held within the two sets of' sockets, and means for connecting wi'es with the first named sockets.

2'. In a fuse block, an insulating body adapted to be arran ed in an upright position and havin a p urality of longitudinal apertures and avmg a main bore at its lower end leadin into the apertures, said body being provi ed at its upper end with openings leading into the apertures and having a smaller diameter, binding posts held within said openings, a cap arranged upon the upper end of the body and eovering said openings, resilient sockets carried by the binding posts and arranged within said apertu-es, an insulating plug adapted" for insertion within' the main bore to close the same and to be removed therefrom, resilient sockets connected with the insulating plug and arranged within said apertures and being stifl`er than the first named resilient sockets, means electrically connecting the last named sockets, and fuses having their opposite sides inserted within the two sets of .sockets.

In testimon whereof I affix my signature.

L U BELLE ANDERSON. 

